Faces and Places

October 23, 2017

Atlanta, where SunTrust Park and Mercedes-Benz Stadium have opened this year and Philips Arena is undergoing major renovations, was a fitting spot for our annual conference on venues, franchises and ticketing. Attendees got a look at both of the new facilities as part of the event earlier this month.

PHOTOS BY BYRON SMALL / ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE

“Our building … was built, as were a lot of venues, where you go, you get a hot dog in aluminum foil, and you watch a game. That just doesn’t make sense anymore.”

STEVE KOONIN
Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena

Jessica Gelman of Kraft Analytics Group

Mark Lamping, Jacksonville Jaguars

Amy Latimer, TD Garden, and Kevin Warren, Minnesota Vikings

Mayu Arita, Georgia Power Co.

Georgia Tech basketball coach Josh Pastner

Eric Phillips, Delta Air Lines

John Collins, On Location Experiences, on the “Future Fan Experience” panel on the conference’s opening morning.

Jared Smith, Ticketmaster, on the “Future Fan Experience” panel.

Jamey Rootes, Houston Texans, on the “Future Fan Experience” panel.

Bryan Perez, AXS, on the “Future Fan Experience” panel.

Batter up! Dimensional Innovations’ Alex Divine ...

... and SME Branding’s Sophia Kelly take cuts at SunTrust Park.

Sixth annual Michigan Sport Business Conference

The sixth annual Michigan Sport Business Conference took place in Ann Arbor earlier this month. Jason White, Beats By Dr. Dre global head of marketing, and Turner President David Levy (below) were among the industry figures taking part.Photos by: MICHIGAN SPORT BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Miami Dolphins players, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Miami Dolphins President and CEO Tom Garfinkel, and NFL and Dolphins staff joined members of the North Miami Police Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office to show support and take part in a ride-along.Photo by: MIAMI DOLPHINS

V Foundation event launch

The V Foundation held a launch party for its first Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, set for May 19. Board of directors member and former CEO Nick Valvano and communications director Katie Sweet were on hand.Photo by: V FOUNDATION

Toast to extension

Joe Gorder, chairman, president and CEO of Valero Energy Corp., and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan were joined by tour player Jimmy Walker (center) on Oct. 4 to announce a 10-year extension of Valero’s sponsorship of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.Photo by: VALERO TEXAS OPEN

NFL’s Hudson at RIT

NFL CMO Dawn Hudson gave a Gasser Lecture Series talk at Rochester Institute of Technology on Oct. 13: RIT President Dave Munson, Hudson and Saunders College of Business dean Jacqueline Mozrall.Photo by: SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AT RIT

Bullish on sports business

At the University of South Florida’s Vinik Sport and Entertainment Management MBA program event Oct. 9: Moez Limayem, USF Muma College of Business dean, and speakers Tim Leiweke of Oak View Group, Brendan Donohue of the NBA 2K League and Jeff Wilpon of the New York Mets.Photo by: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA